VARANASI: After immersing the ashes of its patron Ashok Singhal in river Ganga in the city of salvation on Sunday the Vishwa Hindu Parishad claimed that neither Singhal’s death would derail Ram Janambhumi Ayodhya movement nor it has ousted Kashi and Mathura from its agenda.
Urns containing Singhal’s ashes initially reached VHP’s city office and later taken to Dumraobagh, where scores of saffron brigade activists, Bhartiya Janata Party leaders and also seers paid floral tributes. Later, the ashes were taken near Kedar Ghat by boat to immerse in Ganga.
The joint general secretary of VHP Dr Surendra Jain, who reached here with Singhal’s ashes, told TOI, “Singhal’s death is an irreparable damage for VHP but it has not generated any crisis of leadership. Pravin Togadia is still our undisputed president. VHP’s trustees body is going to meet in December but not to discuss the issue of leadership. The meeting will discuss future strategies of the organization, which will continue progressing with the blessings of seers and guidance of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.”
Jain said that Singhal’s efforts had taken the Ram Janambhumi movement to a decisive stage. “We expect that those, who are contesting in court for Babri, should come forward and ask us to build the temple of Lard Ram at his birthplace. If they are not doing so the union government should bring and ordinance to pave the way for temple construction”, said Jain adding VHP’s struggle for Kashi Vishwanath temple in Kashi and Krishna Janambhumi in Mathura will also continue as per the old agenda.
Jain further said that all VHP programmes including Ram Janambhumi movement, ban on cow slaughtering, spreading knowledge of Veda, security for all religious site of country, removing of untouchability, ending caste based discrimination from society, against conversion and ensuring re-conversion of converted will continue like past.